The '''Edain''' were those [[Men]] who made their way into [[Beleriand]] during the [[Siege of Angband]] during the [[First Age]] and were close allies of the [[Elves]]. The term Edain does not refer to another group of men who entered Beleriand later in the First Age known as the [[Easterlings]] who were noted as being swarthier than the Edain and a large portion of whom would later betray the elves.

The '''Edain''' were those [[Men]] who made their way into [[Beleriand]] during the [[Siege of Angband]] during the [[First Age]] and were close allies of the [[Elves]]. The term Edain does not refer to another group of men who entered Beleriand later in the First Age known as the [[Easterlings]] who were noted as being swarthier than the Edain and a large portion of whom would later betray the elves.

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== Etymology ==

== Etymology ==

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'''edain''' is the plural of ''[[adan]]'', "man" in [[Sindarin]].

'''edain''' is the plural of ''[[adan]]'', "man" in [[Sindarin]].

The [[Sindarin]] word ''Edain'', singular ''Adan'' (Quenya ''Atani'', ''Atan'') literally meant ''Second People'', and originally referred to all Men, but later it only applied to the Men of Beleriand and their descendants. The [[Quenya]] term ''Atani'' kept its old meaning.

The [[Sindarin]] word ''Edain'', singular ''Adan'' (Quenya ''Atani'', ''Atan'') literally meant ''Second People'', and originally referred to all Men, but later it only applied to the Men of Beleriand and their descendants. The [[Quenya]] term ''Atani'' kept its old meaning.

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== The Three Houses ==

== The Three Houses ==

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They were divided in three large houses, or tribes:

They were divided in three large houses, or tribes:

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# The '''[[House of Bëor]]''': they were dark-haired and stoutly built, and most resembled the [[Ñoldor]] of all Elves. They were first discovered by [[Finrod Felagund]], Lord of [[Nargothrond]], and under his guidance later made their way to the lands of the Ñoldorin lord [[Amrod]], in a place later known as [[Estolad]], the Encampment. They remained loyal to the House of [[Finarfin]], and later settled in the lands of [[Dorthonion]].

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# The '''[[House of Bëor]]''': they were dark-haired and stoutly built, and most resembled the [[Noldor|Ñoldor]] of all Elves. They were first discovered by [[Finrod|Finrod Felagund]], Lord of [[Nargothrond]], and under his guidance later made their way to the lands of the Ñoldorin lord [[Amrod]], in a place later known as [[Estolad]], the Encampment. They remained loyal to the House of [[Finarfin]], and later settled in the lands of [[Dorthonion]].

# The Second House, later known as the '''[[Haladin]]''' or the '''House of [[Haleth]]'''. They were a reclusive folk, dark-haired but smaller in stature than the Bëorians. They kept separate from the other Men, and later received permission to settle in the [[Forest of Brethil]], part of [[Doriath]]. They mostly kept out of the wars.

# The Second House, later known as the '''[[Haladin]]''' or the '''House of [[Haleth]]'''. They were a reclusive folk, dark-haired but smaller in stature than the Bëorians. They kept separate from the other Men, and later received permission to settle in the [[Forest of Brethil]], part of [[Doriath]]. They mostly kept out of the wars.

# The '''House of Marach''', later best known as the '''[[House of Hador]]'''. They were tall and golden-haired, and most resembled the [[Vanyar]] of all Elves. They were a very numerous and war-like tribe, and the [[Green-elves]] of [[Ossiriand]] feared them. They later settled in [[Hithlum]] by way of [[Estolad]]. They were loyal to [[Fingolfin]] and to his son [[Fingon]].

# The '''House of Marach''', later best known as the '''[[House of Hador]]'''. They were tall and golden-haired, and most resembled the [[Vanyar]] of all Elves. They were a very numerous and war-like tribe, and the [[Green-elves]] of [[Ossiriand]] feared them. They later settled in [[Hithlum]] by way of [[Estolad]]. They were loyal to [[Fingolfin]] and to his son [[Fingon]].

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== Later History ==

== Later History ==

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After the [[War of Wrath]] the Edain were honoured and granted the island of [[Númenor]] by the [[Valar]] as a gift for their loyalty to the elves. Thus the Edain's decendants became a race far greater than all other men in Middle-earth, living within sight of the blessed realm.

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After the [[War of Wrath]] the Edain were honoured and granted the island of [[Númenor]] by the [[Valar]] as a gift for their loyalty to the elves. Thus the Edain's decendants became a race far greater than all other men in Middle Earth, living within sight of the blessed realm.

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When the Númenoreans returned to [[Middle-earth]] in the [[Second Age]], they encountered many Men who were obviously related to the Atani: they classified these Men as ''Middle Men'', and established friendly relations with them. Examples are the [[Rohirrim]], the Men of [[Dale]], and the [[Bree]]landers.

When the Númenoreans returned to [[Middle-earth]] in the [[Second Age]], they encountered many Men who were obviously related to the Atani: they classified these Men as ''Middle Men'', and established friendly relations with them. Examples are the [[Rohirrim]], the Men of [[Dale]], and the [[Bree]]landers.

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Other Men, such as the [[Dunlendings]], were not recognised as Middle Men because they were related to the Haladin rather than Bëorians or Marachians, and they were hostile to Númenor.

Other Men, such as the [[Dunlendings]], were not recognised as Middle Men because they were related to the Haladin rather than Bëorians or Marachians, and they were hostile to Númenor.

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A fourth kind of Men came with the Second House, and called themselves ''[[Drûgs|Drûg]]''. This name was adopted in Sindarin as ''[[Drúedain]]'': ''Drûg'' ''Edain''. They were a strange people, living with the Haladin in the forest of [[Brethil]], some even apparently made it to [[Númenor]], but they died out or had left before the [[Akallabêth]]. In the [[Third Age]], their far kin were known as the ''Woses'' of [[Drúadan Forest]].

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A fourth kind of Men came with the Second House, and called themselves ''[[Drúedain|Drûg]]''. This name was adopted in Sindarin as ''[[Drúedain]]'': ''Drûg'' ''Edain''. They were a strange people, living with the Haladin in the forest of [[Brethil]], some even apparently made it to [[Númenor]], but they died out or had left before the [[Akallabêth]]. In the [[Third Age]], their far kin were known as the ''Woses'' of [[Drúadan Forest]].

The Edain were those Men who made their way into Beleriand during the Siege of Angband during the First Age and were close allies of the Elves. The term Edain does not refer to another group of men who entered Beleriand later in the First Age known as the Easterlings who were noted as being swarthier than the Edain and a large portion of whom would later betray the elves.

Etymology

The Sindarin word Edain, singular Adan (Quenya Atani, Atan) literally meant Second People, and originally referred to all Men, but later it only applied to the Men of Beleriand and their descendants. The Quenya term Atani kept its old meaning.

The Three Houses

They were divided in three large houses, or tribes:

The House of Bëor: they were dark-haired and stoutly built, and most resembled the Ñoldor of all Elves. They were first discovered by Finrod Felagund, Lord of Nargothrond, and under his guidance later made their way to the lands of the Ñoldorin lord Amrod, in a place later known as Estolad, the Encampment. They remained loyal to the House of Finarfin, and later settled in the lands of Dorthonion.

The Second House, later known as the Haladin or the House of Haleth. They were a reclusive folk, dark-haired but smaller in stature than the Bëorians. They kept separate from the other Men, and later received permission to settle in the Forest of Brethil, part of Doriath. They mostly kept out of the wars.

The Bëorians and Marachians shared a common tongue, and were known to each other before settling in Beleriand. The tongue of the Haladin was alien to them.

The House of Bëor was nearly wiped out by Morgoth, and the remainder of its people merged with the Hadorians to become the Númenóreans. It would seem that the Haladin of Beleriand were completely wiped out, or at least disappeared as a separate people.

Later History

After the War of Wrath the Edain were honoured and granted the island of Númenor by the Valar as a gift for their loyalty to the elves. Thus the Edain's decendants became a race far greater than all other men in Middle-earth, living within sight of the blessed realm.

When the Númenoreans returned to Middle-earth in the Second Age, they encountered many Men who were obviously related to the Atani: they classified these Men as Middle Men, and established friendly relations with them. Examples are the Rohirrim, the Men of Dale, and the Breelanders.

Other Men, such as the Dunlendings, were not recognised as Middle Men because they were related to the Haladin rather than Bëorians or Marachians, and they were hostile to Númenor.

A fourth kind of Men came with the Second House, and called themselves Drûg. This name was adopted in Sindarin as Drúedain: DrûgEdain. They were a strange people, living with the Haladin in the forest of Brethil, some even apparently made it to Númenor, but they died out or had left before the Akallabêth. In the Third Age, their far kin were known as the Woses of Drúadan Forest.